Police: Teen arrested in killing of Colorado girl

P. Solomon Banda, The Associated Press

Published 2:00 pm, Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Photo: HOPD

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This image provided by the Westminster Colorado Police Department shows 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway. Police in Westminster are looking for a 10-year-old girl who was last seen walking to school. Jessica Ridgeway normally meets a friend at a park on her way to Witt Elementary School, but she didnt make it to the park or school Friday Oct. 5, 2012. An Amber Alert has been issued. (AP Photo/Westminster Colorado Police Department) less

This image provided by the Westminster Colorado Police Department shows 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway. Police in Westminster are looking for a 10-year-old girl who was last seen walking to school. Jessica ... more

Photo: HOPD

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This image provided by the Westminster Colorado Police Department shows Jessica Ridgeway. Authorities looking for the 10-year-old Colorado girl who disappeared days ago after leaving for school are planning to finish scouring open fields and resume searching the fifth-grader's suburban Denver neighborhood on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Westminster Colorado Police Department) less

This image provided by the Westminster Colorado Police Department shows Jessica Ridgeway. Authorities looking for the 10-year-old Colorado girl who disappeared days ago after leaving for school are planning to ... more

Photo: HOPD

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This image provided by the Westminster Colorado Police Department shows Jessica Ridgeway. Authorities looking for the 10-year-old Colorado girl who disappeared days ago after leaving for school are planning to finish scouring open fields and resume searching the fifth-grader's suburban Denver neighborhood on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Westminster Colorado Police Department) less

This image provided by the Westminster Colorado Police Department shows Jessica Ridgeway. Authorities looking for the 10-year-old Colorado girl who disappeared days ago after leaving for school are planning to ... more

Photo: HOPD

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This image provided by the Westminster Colorado Police Department shows Jessica Ridgeway. Authorities looking for the 10-year-old Colorado girl who disappeared days ago after leaving for school are planning to finish scouring open fields and resume searching the fifth-grader's suburban Denver neighborhood on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Westminster Colorado Police Department) less

This image provided by the Westminster Colorado Police Department shows Jessica Ridgeway. Authorities looking for the 10-year-old Colorado girl who disappeared days ago after leaving for school are planning to ... more

Photo: HOPD

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This image provided by the Westminster Colorado Police Department shows Jessica Ridgeway. Authorities looking for the 10-year-old Colorado girl who disappeared days ago after leaving for school are planning to finish scouring open fields and resume searching the fifth-grader's suburban Denver neighborhood on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Westminster Colorado Police Department) less

This image provided by the Westminster Colorado Police Department shows Jessica Ridgeway. Authorities looking for the 10-year-old Colorado girl who disappeared days ago after leaving for school are planning to ... more

Photo: HOPD

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Members of a search and rescue team use a dog while searching for ten-year-old Jessica Ridgeway near her home in Westminster, Colo., on Monday, Oct. 8, 2012. The youngster has been missing since she left her home Friday morning on her way to school. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) less

Members of a search and rescue team use a dog while searching for ten-year-old Jessica Ridgeway near her home in Westminster, Colo., on Monday, Oct. 8, 2012. The youngster has been missing since she left her ... more

Photo: Ed Andrieski, STF

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Denis McLaughlin leads his search and rescue dog through a field of tall grass searching for ten-year-old Jessica Ridgeway near her home in Westminster, Colo., on Monday, Oct. 8, 2012. The youngster has been missing since she left her home Friday morning on her way to school. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) less

Denis McLaughlin leads his search and rescue dog through a field of tall grass searching for ten-year-old Jessica Ridgeway near her home in Westminster, Colo., on Monday, Oct. 8, 2012. The youngster has been ... more

Photo: Ed Andrieski, STF

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The family of Jessica Ridgeway gathers at the Westminster Police Department in Westminster, Colo., on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012, to talk about Jessica and ask for her safe return. In the front row from left are, Jessica's dad, Jeremiah Bryant, Jessica's great aunt, Gay Moore, Jessica's mother, Sarah Ridgeway, and Jessica's grandmother Christine Ridgeway. Jessica went missing Friday while on her way to school. (AP Photo/The Denver Post, Kathryn Scott Osler, Pool) less

The family of Jessica Ridgeway gathers at the Westminster Police Department in Westminster, Colo., on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012, to talk about Jessica and ask for her safe return. In the front row from left are, ... more

Photo: Kathryn Scott Osler, POOL

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Jessica's dad, Jeremiah Bryant begins to cry as Jessica's mother describes the little girl to reporters at the Westminster Police Department in Westminster, Colo., on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012. The family of Jessica Ridgeway gathered to talk about Jessica and ask for her safe return. Jessica went missing Friday while on her way to school. (AP Photo/The Denver Post, Kathryn Scott Osler, Pool) less

Jessica's dad, Jeremiah Bryant begins to cry as Jessica's mother describes the little girl to reporters at the Westminster Police Department in Westminster, Colo., on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012. The family of ... more

Photo: Kathryn Scott Osler, POOL

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After giving the interview, Jessica's mother Sarah Ridgeway and Jessica's father, Jeremiah Bryant embrace at the Westminster Police Department in Westminster, Colo., on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012. The family of Jessica Ridgeway gathered to talk about Jessica and ask for her safe return. Jessica went missing Friday while on her way to school. (AP Photo/The Denver Post, Kathryn Scott Osler, Pool) less

After giving the interview, Jessica's mother Sarah Ridgeway and Jessica's father, Jeremiah Bryant embrace at the Westminster Police Department in Westminster, Colo., on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012. The family of ... more

Photo: Kathryn Scott Osler, POOL

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As Jessica's mother, Sarah Ridgeway begins to cry, she is comforted by her aunt, Gay Moore, left, and by Sarah's great aunt Wendy Pesavento at the Westminster Police Department in Westminster, Colo., on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012. The family of Jessica Ridgeway gathered to talk about Jessica and ask for her safe return. Jessica went missing Friday while on her way to school. (AP Photo/The Denver Post, Kathryn Scott Osler, Pool) less

As Jessica's mother, Sarah Ridgeway begins to cry, she is comforted by her aunt, Gay Moore, left, and by Sarah's great aunt Wendy Pesavento at the Westminster Police Department in Westminster, Colo., on ... more

Photo: Kathryn Scott Osler, POOL

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A missing person sign is posted on a lamp post near the home of ten-year-old Jessica Ridgeway where police continue to search for the missing girl in Westminster, Colo., on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012. The youngster has been missing since she left her home Friday morning on her way to school. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) less

A missing person sign is posted on a lamp post near the home of ten-year-old Jessica Ridgeway where police continue to search for the missing girl in Westminster, Colo., on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012. The ... more

Photo: Ed Andrieski, STF

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Police gather after canvassing a neighborhood looking for clues in the search for ten-year-old Jessica Ridgeway near her home in Westminster, Colo., on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012. The youngster has been missing since she left her home Friday morning on her way to school. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) less

Police gather after canvassing a neighborhood looking for clues in the search for ten-year-old Jessica Ridgeway near her home in Westminster, Colo., on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012. The youngster has been missing ... more

Photo: Ed Andrieski, STF

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Police walk the streets looking for clues in the search for ten-year-old Jessica Ridgeway near her home in Westminster, Colo., on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012. The youngster has been missing since she left her home Friday morning on her way to school. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) less

Police walk the streets looking for clues in the search for ten-year-old Jessica Ridgeway near her home in Westminster, Colo., on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012. The youngster has been missing since she left her home ... more

Photo: Ed Andrieski, STF

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Heavy police activity was witnessed Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012, on Leyden Road in west Arvada Colorado. A body was found near an open space area in the Denver suburb of Arvada Wednesday Oct. 10, 2012. Westminster police spokesman Trevor Materasso said Wednesday that so far, police haven't connected it to the disappearance of 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway, whose mother last saw her leaving for school Friday. Her father lives in Independence, Mo. (AP Photo/RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post less

Heavy police activity was witnessed Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012, on Leyden Road in west Arvada Colorado. A body was found near an open space area in the Denver suburb of Arvada Wednesday Oct. 10, 2012. ... more

Photo: RJ Sangosti, MBR

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Arvada police officers manned a roadblock Wednesday evening, Oct. 10, 2012. A body was found near an open space area in the Denver suburb of Arvada Wednesday Oct. 10, 2012. Westminster police spokesman Trevor Materasso said Wednesday that so far, police haven't connected it to the disappearance of 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway, whose mother last saw her leaving for school Friday. Her father lives in Independence, Mo. (AP Photo/Karl Gehring, The Denver Post less

Arvada police officers manned a roadblock Wednesday evening, Oct. 10, 2012. A body was found near an open space area in the Denver suburb of Arvada Wednesday Oct. 10, 2012. Westminster police spokesman Trevor ... more

Photo: Karl Gehring, MBR

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Police: Teen arrested in killing of Colorado girl

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A teenage boy who lived just a mile from a 10-year-old Colorado girl who was abducted and killed earlier this month has been arrested in her death, along with a May attack on a runner, authorities said Wednesday.

Police in the Denver suburb of Westminster said they arrested 17-year-old Austin Reed Sigg on Tuesday night after receiving a phone call that led them to his home. They declined to elaborate.

Sigg lives about a mile from the home of Jessica Ridgeway, who disappeared Oct. 5 after leaving for school. Her body was found five days later in a field at a park.

"We worked on this case nonstop, around the clock, since Oct. 5, the day of her abduction," Police Chief Lee Birk said at news conference. "I believe we've made a significant step towards justice for Jessica."

The break in the case comes two days after police said Jessica's abduction was linked to the May 28 attempted abduction of a 22-year-old runner at another park, the Ketner Lake Open Space.

Sigg will be charged in both cases. His first court appearance is set for 8 a.m. Thursday.